Frosty Mountain

“We are not trying to race down the hill to see who can go the fastest. We are trying to make the most of the terrain. There are so many approaches to the same line and how you decide to express yourself on a slope reflects your style and personality” -Taro TamaiWhile Frosty Mountain is not the most ‘extreme’ ski descent in the Indian Peaks, it has been on my list for a while now. Overhanging cornices, the size of school buses, on adjacent slopes are evidence of the high winds this place is known for and that have turned me around on many attempts.

Three riders and three totally different tracks down the same face. One is by a ski mountaineer racer, another by a splitboarder, and the third by a new backcountry skier. Can you tell whose is which?

The winds let up just enough for us to get on top of of the divide this weekend. The summit views were beautiful and I wish I could have stayed longer to take some photos. This was also Buster’s first summit and “big” descent. It was pretty amazing watching him barrel down the mountain and catch up with Becca.

I took this photo not knowing who the three figures on the ridge were. While sitting in the parking lot, they walked up. Turns out it was some buddies.